1. A PRESENTATION MADE BY: NAOMI ADAM CHARLIE KALIMAH
T H E S E A R C H F O R
CLEOPATRA
A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ARTICLE
A PRESENTATION MADE BY:
NAOMI
ADAM
CHARLIE
KALIMAH

2. SUMMARIZER AND CONNECTOR
The article, "The Search for Cleopatra", discussed the ongoing search for the notorious Cleopatra. The article recognizes the large amount of fame that Cleopatra has accumulated over centuries and the vast amount of knowledge yet to be discovered about this queen of egypt. In the article a female dominican archeologist by the name of Kathleen Martinez goes on a originally 3 month search in Egypt off of a theory to find the tomb and remnants of Cleopatra. With the permission and help of Zahi Hawass Martinez begins her expedition in Alexandria. Near the end of her 3 months she discovered artifacts and also connecting tombs related to the pharaoh Ptolemy and found the remnants of a pregnant woman grasping in agony to the bust of Marc Antony. Martinez now continues her search for the last queen of Egypt. She now resides in Alexandria where she is learning Arabic and soon hopes to return back to her search in the fall.

3. INVESTIGATOR
1. Although she is thought to have been killed by getting bitten by an asp (an Egyptian Cobra) she most likely actually died by drinking a drug cocktail of hemlock mixed with wolfsbane and opium. Many historians think this because an asp bite is not always fatal, and even if it is it may take days to die from it. They also think it was poisons because Cleopatra is known to have tested out poisons on slaves and prisoners thus meaning she would know that fastest way to die. Historians also believe this theory because most painters and sculptors did not start drawing her with an asp until the fifteenth century.
2. The earthquake the author references that wiped out Alexandria was in the year 365. It had an epicenter near Crete and a magnitude of around 8.0, and created a huge tsunami. It started with water receding near the coast, deserting a bunch of ships which led thieves to stray out and search them for gold; this led to even more deaths. The tsunami killed 5,000 people and 50,000 homes were destroyed, and that’s only in Alexandria. Outside the city around 45,000 people died and it ruined all farmable land and changed the coast forever.

4. 3. Although Cleopatra had an intense identification with Isis, she wasn’t the first one. For many generations pharaohs have linked themselves with powerful gods so that they can relate more to the common people and hopefully reach a better afterlife. However, Cleopatra was the most resolute with this. She would dress like Isis whenever she was in the presence of her people and prayed more than any other queen.
4. The author touches on the fact that the Ptolemies were an awful family but they don’t really go into it. The Ptolemies were a family who named all of their sons Ptolemy and almost all of their daughters Cleopatra. They followed the Egyptian royal tradition of wedding brother and sister to keep the bloodline pure, however there was also widespread murder of other people in the family, so much that if a child didn’t kill their parent they got the suffix “mother-lover” or “father-lover”
5. The library of Alexandria was an ancient wonder. It held the largest collection of writing works for its time. It also created the modern anthology and poetry book because it started the compilation of works into larger subjects. Also, the national bibliography made by Callimachus was the standard reference of Greek literature far into the Byzantine Empire.

5. ILLUSTRATOR
The picture of Cleopatra is significant because the article discusses the unknown beauty of Cleopatra. There are very few statues, portraits, busts and images of Cleopatra. Therefore in the few instances when Cleopatra is depicted and shown, she is conveyed as a beautiful woman even though there is speculation of her appearance.

6. The picture of the skull and eye relate to the search for the remnants of Cleopatra and the eye represents the hidden meaning behind the thought process of Cleopatra's views. In the article it discusses how Cleopatra associated herself with the Egyptian goddess of fertility and motherhood Isis. Also it said that she most likely viewed herself as Isis and Mark Antony as Osiris.

7. The picture of a sketch of the city of Alexandria in Egypt is important because in the article it discusses the importance of the city in correlation to Cleopatra. The fact that Cleopatra resided in Alexandria for some time is of key importance. The city of Alexandria has been a hive of knowledge and discoveries linked to Cleopatra and other Egyptian mysteries.

8. The picture of the sculpture underwater is important because many artifacts linked to Cleopatra have been discovered underwater. Many archaeologists have found artifacts linked to Cleopatra underwater.

9. The picture of the mummy and bust are important because it was a very important find mentioned in the article. Martinez and her crew discovered the remnants found in a tomb of a woman, who was deemed to be pregnant, lying in agony with a hand on a bust of Mark Antony.

10. LITERARY LUMINARY
1. “In the memorable phrase of critic Harold Bloom, she was the "world's first celebrity." If history is a stage, no actress was ever so versatile…” (Brown 1).
Although she never actually performed, many actresses have interpreted her in different roles (mother, sister, daughter) while still maintaining Cleopatra’s aura. In history, women have been sidestepped by the men and very rarely given the responsibility as a sole ruler so Cleopatra’s popularity is due, in part, to the fact that she was one of the first to have such an influence on her people and leave behind such a great legacy. Her connections with other royal officials deemed her very well known and sought after, just as most celebrities are today. Cleopatra had ambition, drive, courage, and much vanity instilled in her. It is easy to excuse her vain behavior for the fact that it may have been what her people associated her with consistently.
2. “Despite her reputed powers of seduction, there is no reliable depiction of her face. What images do exist are based on un-flattering silhouettes on coins” (Brown 1).
Cleopatra’s physical appearance, or lack thereof, is not given as much attention as her aura. If a tangible representation of her is found and does not seem to be in sync with her celebrity character, it is thought to be inaccurate because her Hollywood representation is the closest portrayal we have of her. As much as her character is praised, we expect a shining aesthetic as well. Cleopatra revolutionized not only the power given to women in politics but also the qualities which were more important in a woman. She placed an emphasis on intelligence more than beauty.

11. 3. “Sixteen centuries later Shakespeare proclaimed: "No grave upon the earth shall clip in it / a pair so famous” (Brown 2).
Cleopatra’s dramatic relationship with Mark Antony inspired great artists, such as Shakespeare, to theatricalize such a relationship into their work. Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra resulted from his obsession with her as a character. In the play, Shakespeare dramatizes their relationship and fills in the untold gaps that history leaves for us by supporting their love story with possible reasoning. Antony is described as an irresponsible statesmen too in love with Cleopatra to truly care for his duty to Rome. Towards the end, Antony speculates that his lover may have sold him out and so their tragic death results in the confusion.
4. “Today the woman who rules as the last pharaoh of Egypt and who is alleged to have tested toxic potions on prisoners is instead poisoning her subjects as the most popular brand of cigarettes in the Middle East” (Brown 1).
The irony behind this quote shows just how much of a lasting impact Cleopatra has left on the world. Her endeavors in life were realized long after she was gone. The only difference is that she practiced on her prisoners while the cigarettes now named after her intoxicate many of her beloved people. People usually remember what is more recent, and so as the last pharaoh, Cleopatra has become the ever present representation of power in Egypt. The power to alter human’s mind in someway still makes itself known in the cigarette brand inspired by her.

12. 5. “It was Cleopatra’s identification with Isis, and her royal role as the manifestations of the great goddess of motherhood, fertility, and magic that ultimately led Kathleen Martinez to Taposiris Magna” (Brown 6).
It’s interesting that someone who so many people aspire to be had such a deep desire to identify with an even greater legacy. In a way, all these influences connect to the idea of relating oneself to icons. The symbolic associations with Cleopatra have served as clues of indication towards her burial and as a general guide to the way she would be buried.
6. “‘On the other hand, maybe finding her tomb would diminish what Shakespeare called “her infinite variety”’(Brown 9).
Cleopatra’s character was created through years of theories to create a versatile icon through the interpretation of different mediums. Everything Cleopatra is renowned for would be proved otherwise or untrue if she her grave would be discovered. The mystery in her diversity would remove her from most other roles in our current society because her true self would be exposed. Finding her tomb would either confirm or negate theories about her. Ultimately, it would change our idealized perception of Cleopatra and make her a tangible part of our views-not just an exaggerated version of a woman who knew how to use people to her greatest advantage.

13. 7. “Ancient historians praised her allure, not her looks” (Brown 1).
For a time when Egyptians were obsessed with appearance and aesthetics to show power, Cleopatra managed to stun the world with her intrigue and way of speaking. She was truly the epitome of what it means to be unique and clever. Cleopatra may have possessed as much intelligence as we think she did but her mere courage in offering her best qualities for the advancement of Egypt was not just modern, but inspiring for the women who look up to her and can relate to her stronger sense of reality rather than retail.
8. “‘She wanted to be buried with him because she wanted to reenact the legend of Isis and Osiris”’ (Brown 6).
Cleopatra’s theatricality and multifaceted self extended even to her most fragile moments- death. Her desire to die within the plotline of a beautiful tragedy just to keep up her image is impressive and very symbolical to the way she lived her life both in reality and in our culture. Vanity was not the cause of her constant acting; her aspirations of becoming more like a divine goddess led her to behave in such a reflectorary manner and implement a legacy into her own love story. Archaeologists who search for her tomb keep in mind that her burial would be anything but ordinary and would most likely relate to her life performance of Isis and Osiris.

14. VOCABULARY ENRICHER
1. Decadent (adj.)- unrestrained or excessive self-indulgence
Sample from text:
Her "bath rituals and decadent lifestyle" are credited with inspiring a perfume.
Page #1
Self-developed sentence:
The boss is so decadent that he wastes the project’s funds to build a statue of himself.
2. Vituperation (n.)- bitter or abusive language
Yet if she is everywhere, Cleopatra is also nowhere, obscured in what biographer Michael Grant called the "fog of fiction and vituperation which has surrounded her personality from her own lifetime onwards."
“I cannot stand for this vituperation!” cried the victim.

15. 3. Diadem (n.)- a jeweled crown or headband worn as a symbol of sovereignty
Sample from text:
People have been puzzling over the whereabouts of Cleopatra's tomb since she was last seen in her mausoleum in the legendary deathbed tableau, adorned with diadem and royal finery and reposed on what Plutarch described as a golden couch.
Page #1
Self-developed sentence:
The queen wore the diadem with pride.
4. Esplanade (n.)- a long, open, level area, typically beside the sea, along which people may walk for pleasure
Underwater excavations begun in 1992 by French explorer Franck Goddio and his European
Institute of Underwater Archaeology have allowed researchers to map out the drowned portions of ancient Alexandria, its piers and esplanades, the sunken ground once occupied by royal palaces.
Page #2
We took a walk along the esplanades.

16. 5. Trollop (n.)- a woman perceived as sexually disreputable or promiscuous
Sample from text:
Her father, Fausto Martínez, a professor and legal scholar normally quite careful in his judgments, disparaged the famous queen as a trollop.
Page #2
Self-developed sentence:
Prostitutes are trollops.
6. Canonical (adj.)- authorized; accepted; recognized
She pored over the canonical texts, particularly Plutarch's account of Mark Antony's alliance with Cleopatra.
The geocentric belief was a canonical belief until it was proved wrong.

17. 7. Flair (n.)- a natural talent, aptitude, or ability; bent; knack
Sample from text:
The Ptolemies' talent for intrigue was exceeded only by their flair for pageantry.
Page #3
Self-developed sentence:
Steve has flair in music.
8. Venerated (v.)- to regard or treat with reverence; revere
To fortify her position, and like other queens before her, Cleopatra sought to link her identity with the great Isis (and Mark Antony's with Osiris), and to be venerated as a goddess.
Page #4
The employee venerated his boss.

18. 9. Distended (adj.)- swollen, by or as by internal pressure, out of normal size or shape; protuberant
Sample from text:
Her jaw was distended, suggesting her agony, and her right hand was clutching a small white marble bust of Alexander the Great.
Page #5
Self-developed sentence:
Her ankle distended a few days after the accident.

19. DISCUSSION DIRECTOR
1. Do you think that even though the publication is an article not relating to their life and also non-fiction has a positive or negative effect on how readers interpret the article?
2. If Cleopatra’s tomb was found at Taposiris Magna what effects do you think it would have on world culture and Egyptian culture. If you don’t think it would have a large impact, why do you think that people are spending so much time trying to find it?
3. Do you think that the article overstated what Cleopatra did, making us think she was better and more important than she actually is?
4. Do you think the author’s colloquial introduction lured readers who may not have been interested in the topic, changing his audience and thus changing the interpretation of the story?
5. If the whole article was more pedantic than simple, do you think the audience would change? And if so who would the audience change to?

20. CONNECTIONS
“The Search for Cleopatra” article connects well with the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Cleopatra was the last Egyptian Queen, and her tomb is currently being searched for by Kathleen Martinez. King Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh that died at an early age. His tomb was eventually found by Howard Carter.
The article connects with events such as the search for the Loch Ness Monster. Some people believe the creature exists while others do not. People search the loch to find the creature to prove its existence. Some that search for the creature claim that they have found evidence of its existence.
The article also connects with human nature of persistence. Martinez is persistent about searching for Cleopatra’s tomb despite coming out empty handed. She plans on staying in Egypt to continue her search and is determined to unlock the mystery once and for all.

21. CRITICAL READING QUESTIONS
1. The writers subject is the search for Cleopatra and all the troubles that are involved in the process. It also provides a historical background for the sites where people have started digging and also a broad idea of what Cleopatra did and her relationship with Anthony. No, the author is very in depth with the history as it applies to the situation and when explaining the process of how Martinez obtained the rights to dig at Taposiris Magna they recounted it in detail. The only part in which they don’t provide much detail is when they are talking about the success of underwater archeology, as the author doesn’t go into whether it has provided any lasting results. The author didn’t leave anything out. Everything that could relate to the search at Taposiris Magna was, as if anything were left out then the whole article would be confusing.
2. The writer’s main point is the search by Kathleen Martinez at Taposiris Magna. The author focuses specifically on this one case of searching for Cleopatra because they think that it is the most likely spot to find Cleopatra. I agree with this point because all of the ideas that they have that support finding it at Taposiris are based off of facts that make sense.

22. 3. The author’s purpose may be one of two things
3. The author’s purpose may be one of two things. The first, and the most likely, is that they wish to just educate the public about what is going on so that the readers can make conclusions about what they think and hopefully lead to a more educated community. They most likely hope to abolish the confusion surrounding topics like this which to not get much media coverage. The other purpose may be that they are trying to gain support for archeologists who have ideas about where to go, because they stress how at the beginning Martinez was turned away even though her idea was good. I support the first purpose because I think it’s more important and more likely to be achieved by this article, and I think they achieved that because the writing covers all topics, as if they were trying to explain it to someone who’s never heard of Cleopatra. This means that anyone could pick it up and learn, you don’t have to have prior education.
4. The audience of this could be anyone, as it is made to inform and is not specific to a certain set of people. However, the audience of this will most likely be people seeking more information about the Search for Cleopatra, thus suggesting that they are scholars. Because national geographic is a published magazine, it can also reach the public, so anyone can read it, thus expanding the audience and leaving no one out.
5. There weren’t many assumptions behind the subject, because the writer is just trying to tell Martinez’s story and not trying to impose his beliefs on the subject. This leaves very little room

23. 6. From this paper, a reader could conclude where they think that Cleopatra is buried, which could either be Taporisis Magna, Alexandria, or some other place, they can come to this conclusion by themselves. I agree with this because it is exactly the author’s purpose, which I believe is to educate the public, so leading them to conclusions is exactly what the author would want.
7. I think that the way the writer makes their argument is seamless and logical. They provide the history and explanation of an event or a place before actually describing it in terms of how it applies to Martinez’s search. This lets the readers know about the subject of her search before the author starts talking about its success. This also makes the argument more convincing because it makes it backed up by facts and logical thoughts, which make the readers believe it to be true. The argument is fair as well, because the writer does not use charged language or any type of words which would try to alter the reader viewpoint, they only give the facts and what’s happening with Martinez’s search.
8. I like the author’s introduction. He describes Cleopatra in today’s culture but then explains how she actually was, before all of the commercialization. I want to use this in future papers because it’s an interesting as well as informative way to grab the reader’s attention, without straying from the main point of the article.

24. WORKS CITED
Brown, Andrew. “The Truth About Cleopatra’s Lethal Drugs Cocktail.” The Telegraph.N.p., 30 June 2010.
Web. 7 September 2014.
Van Doren, Charles. “Library of Alexandria.” Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., 28 September Web. 4
September 2014.
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